Mechanism for interrupting the operation of a picker stick in a textile loom



Jan. 4, 1966 F. w. BAUGHA ETAL 3,227,185

MECHAN FOR INTERRUPT THE OPERATION OF A STICK IN A TEXTILE LOOM F" d March 10, 1964 Box MOTION INDICATOR WITH MULTIPLE-E.

2 INVENTORS ATTORNEYS United States Patent MECHANISM FOR INTERRUPTING THE OPERA- TION OF A PICKER STICK IN A TEXTILE LOOM Floyd Winford Baugham and James Adam Cranford,

Roanoke Rapids, N.C., assignors to J. P. Stevens &

Co., Inc., a corporation of Delaware Filed Mar. 10, 1964, Ser. No. 350,892 4 Claims. (Cl. 139-156) This invention relates to a mechanism for interrupting the operation of a picker stick on a textile loom and more particularly to a mechanism for interrupting the insertion of filling yarns into fabric for the forming of fringes or the like.

Heretofore, mechanisms have been available for 'interrupting the operation of a picker stick on a textile loom of the multiple shuttle or box types. However, no means has been available for interrupting the operation of the picker stick on a single shuttle loom.

It is an object of this invention to provide an effective means for interrupting the drive to the picker stick on a single shuttle loom. g

It has been found by this invention that the above object may be accomplished by providing a clutch arrangement in the pick shaft of the textile loom with suitable mechanical linkages for disengaging and engaging the clutch and thereby control the operation of the picker stick.

One purpose for interrupting the operation of the picker stick is for forming fringes on textile fabrics used as towels, tablecloths, and the like. This may be accomplished during weaving of the products on textile looms by interrupting or discontinuing insertion of the filing yarns into the fabric for a predetermined period of time, while continuing the feed of the warp yarns. This procedure results in a portion of the woven fabric having only lengthwise warp yarns therein. Upon completion of the fabric, the individual towels, tablecloths, or the like may be cut from the continuous length by cutting through the portions of the fabric having only warp yarns, thereby leaving a fringe of loose warp yarns on each end of the product.

Further features of this invention will be understood from the following more detailed descriptiontaken in conjunction with the accompanyingdrawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the mechanisms of this invention;

FIG. 2 is a view taken along the lines 2-2 of FIG. 1, and;

FIG. 3 is a view taken along the lines 3-3 of FIG.

Referring to FIG. 1, a conventional picker stick is shown for operating a shuttle (not shown) to insert fill ng yarns during the weaving of the fabric. The plcker stick 10 is actuated by the usual linkages 11 from a pickshaft 12. The pickshaft 12 normally reciprocates back and forth to drive the picker stick 10 in a manner well known to those with ordinary skill in the art.

Disposed on the pickshaft 12 for reciprocating it is a clutch mechanism generally indicated as 13. The clutch mechanism 13 comprises a fixed clutch jaw 14 which is secured to the pickshaft 12 for movement therewith. The fixed clutch jaw 14 has teeth 15 thereon. The clutch mechanism 13 further includes a movable clutch jaw 16 which surrounds pickshaft 12 but is movable with respect to it. The movable clutch jaw 16 has teeth 17 thereon which are adapted to mesh with teeth 15 on fixed clutch jaw 14 for driving engagement.

The movable clutch jaw 16 is continuously reciprocated back and forth by a pick ball 18 secured thereto and pick cam 19. The pick cam 19 is continuously driven by conventional mechanisms (not shown) to reciprocate the pick ball 18 in the usual manner.

3,227,186 Patented Jan. 4, 1966 A means for engaging and disengaging the clutch mechanism is provided. This means includes a finger 20* which rests in clutch slot 21 in the movable clutch jaw 16. The finger 20 is secured to a lever arm 22 which surrounds one end of and is fixedly secured to connecting rod 23.

The connecting rod 23 passes through collar 24 which is permanently secured to the loom frame 25. The connecting rod 23 is pivotally secured at the other end thereof to an L-shaped lever arm 26 which is pivoted to the loom frame 25. The L-shaped lever arm 26 is connected to lifting rod 27 which is attached to the box motion indicator with multiplier of the loom.

To normally bias the clutch mechanism 13 into engagement for reciprocating the pickshaft 12 to operate the picker stick 10, there is provided a coil spring 28. The coil spring 28 is disposed around connecting rod 23 and compressed between lever arm 22 and collar 24 to normally bias lever arm 22 to the right, as viewed in FIG. 2, to maintain movable clutch jaw 16 in driving engagement with fixed clutch jaw 14.

In operation, the clutch mechanism 13 is normally engaged, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, by the above described action of the spring 28 to maintain normal operation of the picker stick 10 for normal weaving of the textile fabric. When the desired length of fabric for the towels, tablecloths, or the like has been woven and a fringe is desired to be formed, the box motion indicator with multiplier will raise the lifting rod 27 to raise one end of the L-shaped lever arm 26 about its pivot to move connecting rod 23 and lever arm 22 to the left, as viewed in FIGS. 1 and 2, against the bias of the spring 28. This movement of the mechanical linkages 27, 26, 23 and 22 slides movable clutch jaw 16 to the left, as viewed in the drawings, through the action of finger 20 in clutch slot 21. This movement of clutch jaw 16 disengages teeth 15 and 17 to disengage clutch mechanism 13. When the clutch mechanism 13 is disengaged, the movable clutch member 16 will continue to reciprocate through the action of pick ball 18 secured thereto and pick cam 19; however, the pickshaft 12 will not reciprocate since the movable clutch jaw 16 is not fixed thereto and the fixed clutch jaw 14 which is fixed thereto is not in engagement with reciprocating jaw 16. This deactivation of the pickshaft 12 will immobilize the picker stick 10 and prevent insertion of filling yarn into the fabric. As the loom continues to run, a predetermined length of warp yarns are advanced forming a section of warp yarns only in the fabric for a fringe. When the desired length of fringe is formed, the box motion indicator with multiplier causes the lifting rod 27 to drop, which again engages the clutch mechanism 13 through the action of mechanical linkages 26, 23, 22 and spring 28 to begin insertion of the filling yarns. The all warp yarn section or fringe section can later be cut in half to form a fringe on the end of the towel, tablecloth, or the like.

To insure proper meshing of the teeth 15 and 17 during the engaging action of clutch jaws 14 and 16, bumpers 29 and 30 are provided, as shown in FIG. 1. Bumper 29 is secured to pickshaft 12 and is adapted to limit the downward movement of pickshaft 12, as viewed in FIG. 1, by abutting the loom frame 25. Bumper 30 is secured to the loom frame 25 and is adapted to limit the upward movement of pickshaft 12 by abutting the bumper 29. These bumper members assure that the teeth 15 on fixed clutch jaw 14 will always be in proper position for engagement by teeth 17 on movable clutch jaw 16 during the clutch engaging operation.

This invention has been described in detail with respect to forming fringes on towels, tablecloths, or the like, but it is to be understood that the principles involved may be applied for any purpose wherein it is desirable to interrupt the action of the picker stick in a textile loom.

This invention is not intended to be limited by the foregoing description or otherwise except as defined in the appended claims.

We claim:

1. In a single shuttle loom utilizing a picker stick and a driving mechanism for said picker stick, a pick shaft, a clutch disposed in said picker stick driving mechanism for deactivating said driving mechanism to interrupt the operation of said picker stick comprising a fixed jaw secured to said pick shaft, a constantly reciprocating movable clutch jaw slidably mounted on said pick shaft and adapted to engage drivingly said fixed clutch jaw, mechanical linkages adapted to move said reciprocating movable clutch jaws into and out of driving engagement with said fixed clutch jaw, and spring means adapted to bias normally said movable clutch jaw into driving engagement with said fixed clutch jaw.

2. A means for forming fringes on woven textile fabrics, comprising a single shuttle textile loom having a picker stick, a single shuttle driven by said picker stick for inserting filling yarns into the woven fabric, driving means for said picker stick including a pick shaft, and a clutch disposed in said driving means for deactivating said picker stick while said loom continues to run to discontinue the insertion of filling yarns into the fabric for forming a fringe, said clutch comprising a fixed jaw secured to said pick shaft, a constantly reciprocating movable clutch jaw slida-bly mounted on said pick shaft and adapted to engage drivingly said fixed clutch jaw, mechanical linkages adapted to move said reciprocating movable clutch jaw into and out of driving engagement with said fixed clutch jaw, and spring means adapted to bias 4. normally said movable clutch jaw into driving engagement with said fixed clutch jaw.

3. The mechanism, as set forth in claim 1, in which said movable clutch jaw and said fixed clutch jaw have teeth thereon for driving engagement between said jaws, and in which said mechanism further includes bumper mcans to limit the upward and downward movement of said pickshaft and said fixed clutch jaw to insure that said teeth are in alignment during engagement of said clutchjaws.

4. A means for forming fringes on woven textile fabrics, as set forth in claim 2, in which said movable clutch jaw and said fixed clutch jaw have teeth thereon for driving engagement between said jaws, and in which said means further includes bumper means to limit the upward and downward movement of said pickshaft and said fixed clutch jaw to insure that said teeth are in alignment during engagement of said clutch jaws.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 659,072 10/1900 Ketfer 139-156 783,110 2/1905 Dont 139156 913,301 2/1909 McGuinness 139-156 2,748,806 6/1956 Stuer 139-146 FOREIGN PATENTS 20,022 4/ 1882 Germany.

DONALD W; PARKER, Primary Examiner.

H. S. JAUDON, Assistant Examiner. 

1. IN A SINGLE SHUTTLE LOOM UTILIZING A PICKER STICK AND A DRIVING MECHANISM FOR SAID PICKER STICK, A PICK SHAFT, A CLUTCH DISPOSED IN SAID PICKER STICK DRIVING MECHANISM FOR DEACTIVATING SAID DRIVING MECHANISM TO INTERRUPT THE OPERATION OF SAID PICKER STICK COMPRISING A FIXED JAW SECURED TO SAID PICK SHAFT, A CONSTANTLY RECIPROCATING MOVABLE CLUTCH JAW SLIDABLY MOUNTED ON SAID PICK SHAFT AND ADAPTED TO ENGAGE DRIVINGLY SAID FIXED CLUTCH JAW, MECHANICAL LINKAGES ADAPTED TO MOVE SAID RECIPROCATING MOVABLE CLUTCH JAWS INTO AND OUT OF DRIVING ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID FIXED CLUTCH JAW, AND SPRING MEANS ADAPTED TO BIAS NORMALLY SAID MOVABLE CLUTCH JAW INTO DRIVING ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID FIXED CLUTCH JAW. 